Forum Discussion

trailgranny50's avatar
trailgranny50
Explorer
Jan 26, 2015

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy what a day

After months of on and off work on our old camper to get her just right and all spruced up the last step had been an affordable awning. Affordable being relative to OUR financial situation and no one else's. I've been all over the internet, repeatedly, to the DIY drawing board, daily, this option, that option, can we spend this much, should we, should we just slap on a stick of awning track and slide a tarp in there when we need it...... Well today I found a Carefree Freedom awning on Amazon, 8', perfect color for....wait for it.....$295.00 complete! Was I ever excited. Told hubby and he said jump on it and order NOW. So I did and within thirty minutes of completing the order, payment and all, shipping info, etc. an email arrived from Amazon that the transaction had been cancelled, by the selling company who shall remain nameless. As they tell it in a later email they made a "mistake" on their listing and couldn't possibly sell it for that and they only had four to sell to begin with. Took it down to three left and now unavailable. In email questioning their ethics they directed me to another site or three who had the same new awning they had advertised at the same or lesser price. Went to one site and sure enough, same one, same color, same size, same price so I ordered that one. In checking my Amazon orders for confirmation found I'd some how rung up two orders for the same thing! Now back to orders at Amazon and cancel one, just one I hope, and now wait to see if this company will honor their price or if I'll get the same run around with them. Beginning to think a large plastic table cloth thrown over a picnic table would be better? Will follow up when business starts up tomorrow and when I get, or don't get, an order confirmation. I'll follow up with company info and the final experience as this deal develops. Like I said, what a day!
Truck Campers
  • Naio's avatar
    Naio
    Explorer II
    Feb 16, 2015
    tonymull wrote:
    What I did is put two eye bolts on each side of the camper, extraordinarily sealed, to which I attach a tarp with carbiners. This can attach to either side of the camper as needed. Add a couple of poles and stakes to make a place to store stuff. Too often this awning is not really in a useful area, like over the picnic table. For that we use an easy up or just another tarp, depending on the setting. We camp almost exclusively in WA,BC and AK so we camp in the rain quite a lot. The extra dry spot is great. It is very quick, the carbiners stay hooked to the tarp, so it's just two climbs up the step ladder, clip them on, put up the poles at the other corners, stake or tie them off and it's done. Replacing the tarp is as cheap and easy as picking up another 'blue sky' at Walmart.

    That's a great idea, with the carbiners!

    I have a roof rack on my van, and have been bungy-ing or tying on with string. Your way is much better.

    I have been looking at awnings made for roof racks, never sure if it's worth the money to have something made for the purpose.
  • trailgranny50's avatar
    trailgranny50
    Explorer
    Feb 16, 2015
    They may very well sell other items easily and fairly but after my PERSONAL AND INDIVIDUAL experience with them I'd never try doing business with them again based on that distasteful, dishonest and frustrating experience. All personal and by no means a generalization. We're all on our own to make those purchasing decisions. My savings on my item with the only company willing to honor the greatly reduced prices that were posted by no less that 5 companies at one time was between $400 for the next up in price to $900 for those higher and more the norm at this time. As for me it no longer is an issue. Thankfully I'm done with add ons, repairs and replacements until something breaks. Hopefully that will be a long time.
  • JumboJet's avatar
    JumboJet
    Explorer
    Feb 16, 2015
    trailgranny50 wrote:
    Well, as of right now the last sale has apparently gone thru as my billing is showing up in account here. Fingers crossed! The unit I believe I actually got a real order accepted is with Synergy Offroad and is a Carefree Freedom 8' manual rollup, only color is black to grey fade.


    I just ordered an item from Synergy Offroad via Amazon for my motor home. Their price only saves me $24 from another Internet vendor. I have a FedEx tracking number so I hope all is good. Their Facebook page shows that they carry thousands of different items from multiple locations.
  • trailgranny50's avatar
    trailgranny50
    Explorer
    Feb 14, 2015
    Thank GOD the awning wars are over here! My son and I installed the new one today. Heavy dose of putty tape behind it, screws all in, slide it in,I say slide it in, ugh, forgot the silicone spray in the track first and now I know why you should do that even if it's a metal bead, the slide thing. But it's up there and functions so easily. Made one with some salvaged dome tent fabric from local canvas shop and reused some tent poles from an awning I'd made previously to take care of DH's request for a rear door awning. Our camper, being so old, doesn't have the space required for a factory made awning there. Ordered a clip on cover and it can stay put during travel. The benefit of making my own is having a 4' drop and 7' extension for some serious protection back there. I can roll up and store it from the camper door, no ladder needed. AMEN and say Grace over it, it's done!
  • dlduke01's avatar
    dlduke01
    Explorer
    Feb 14, 2015
    Bob B wrote:
    tonymull wrote:
    What I did is put two eye bolts on each side of the camper, extraordinarily sealed, to which I attach a tarp with carbiners. This can attach to either side of the camper as needed. Add a couple of poles and stakes to make a place to store stuff. Too often this awning is not really in a useful area, like over the picnic table. For that we use an easy up or just another tarp, depending on the setting. We camp almost exclusively in WA,BC and AK so we camp in the rain quite a lot. The extra dry spot is great. It is very quick, the carbiners stay hooked to the tarp, so it's just two climbs up the step ladder, clip them on, put up the poles at the other corners, stake or tie them off and it's done. Replacing the tarp is as cheap and easy as picking up another 'blue sky' at Walmart.


    We need a picture :)



    X2
  • Bob__B's avatar
    Bob__B
    Explorer
    Feb 03, 2015
    tonymull wrote:
    What I did is put two eye bolts on each side of the camper, extraordinarily sealed, to which I attach a tarp with carbiners. This can attach to either side of the camper as needed. Add a couple of poles and stakes to make a place to store stuff. Too often this awning is not really in a useful area, like over the picnic table. For that we use an easy up or just another tarp, depending on the setting. We camp almost exclusively in WA,BC and AK so we camp in the rain quite a lot. The extra dry spot is great. It is very quick, the carbiners stay hooked to the tarp, so it's just two climbs up the step ladder, clip them on, put up the poles at the other corners, stake or tie them off and it's done. Replacing the tarp is as cheap and easy as picking up another 'blue sky' at Walmart.


    We need a picture :)
  • tonymull's avatar
    tonymull
    Explorer
    Feb 03, 2015
    What I did is put two eye bolts on each side of the camper, extraordinarily sealed, to which I attach a tarp with carbiners. This can attach to either side of the camper as needed. Add a couple of poles and stakes to make a place to store stuff. Too often this awning is not really in a useful area, like over the picnic table. For that we use an easy up or just another tarp, depending on the setting. We camp almost exclusively in WA,BC and AK so we camp in the rain quite a lot. The extra dry spot is great. It is very quick, the carbiners stay hooked to the tarp, so it's just two climbs up the step ladder, clip them on, put up the poles at the other corners, stake or tie them off and it's done. Replacing the tarp is as cheap and easy as picking up another 'blue sky' at Walmart.
  • trailgranny50's avatar
    trailgranny50
    Explorer
    Feb 03, 2015
    That's what I figured since they simply switched from Amazon to EBay and aren't responding to email inquiry about the ad. Why do people have to work so hard at being crooked when they'd do better consistently being fair and honest? Must not be interested in repeat business or a good reputation. Go figure.
  • dlduke01's avatar
    dlduke01
    Explorer
    Feb 03, 2015
    Shop Eddies is false. It took me 3 days to get the money back in my account.
  • trailgranny50's avatar
    trailgranny50
    Explorer
    Feb 03, 2015
    Update and final post on this subject from me. My awning arrives Wednesday. They couldn't get the semi down the driveway Friday for first delivery attempt and lost my phone number, didn't call today until truck had left OKC so that's the next day they deliver up here. Now, interestingly, all the "incorrectly listed" awning ads and associated company's don't seem to be at Amazon anymore, one with the same cheap price is now in EBay, Shop Eddie's. Don't know if they're actually selling them at that price or not. Did email to ask but won't affect me at this point, just morbid curiosity I guess. Anyway, will be mounting the one I managed to score in a couple days, thank goodness that's over. Spend tomorrow rigging up cover for dog kennel crate and pen to keep weather and Sun out and youngster in as she's a real "squirrel". Busy, busy, never too bored.

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